Ever wonder what North Korea really looks like? This guy got inside on a "tourist" visa for this documentary
http://www.vice.com/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-3
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Job Interviewing Techniques
After three months of being unemployed from a direct hire permanent position, one of my new co-workers at this great company just mentioned that interviewing a candidate should be like talking to an old friend.
Take that to heart. Not all interviews will result in a job for a million possible reasons not related to you. It could be anything from the guy got cut-off on the way into work to him or her getting yelled at by his boss that morning. If you don't get offered the job, chin-up and do what I did; Treat it as "interview experience". Don't kick yourself too much. Relax. Be yourself. If they don't like you enough to hire you then you probably won't like the job anyways!
Take that to heart. Not all interviews will result in a job for a million possible reasons not related to you. It could be anything from the guy got cut-off on the way into work to him or her getting yelled at by his boss that morning. If you don't get offered the job, chin-up and do what I did; Treat it as "interview experience". Don't kick yourself too much. Relax. Be yourself. If they don't like you enough to hire you then you probably won't like the job anyways!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Recommendations - Here's to patting yourself on the back! It also does not hurt when someone else does it for you! What a great invention!
“It is my pleasure to recommend Richard in memory of his heroic support of an international sale of product into a new Asian Market. Richard took initiative, solved problems, communicated results, made sacrifices, and basically "brought home" a sale where several million in product had been rushed to the field ahead of completion. Richard virtually re-engineered the products in the field with little help and under complete time constraint. The act substantially improved the company's stance in the marketplace and improved relations across the region. Richard deserves extreme kudos for the support and level of effort.”
August 10, 2011
Richard Hunsaker, MBA, BSCS, Technical Coordinator, Shuffle Master (colleague)
Worked directly with Richa
“I worked with Richard for several years at Bally Technology, Casinovations, and Vendingdata; and found him consistently capable, consistently reliable, and very hard working. Richard was resourceful, and always willing to help out. He kept great documentation, and was a pleasure to work with. All around, a great combination of skills. Richard is a great guy to work with-- Both knowledgeable and fun to work with. He always had fun little tidbits to say to liven the day and always had advice when there were work related problems. Richard is one of the rare engineers in gaming who understands both applications-level software and low-level firmware. Richard has been a key resource at Bally, Casinovations, and Vendingdata developing low level software on embedded devices, and applications level software on the Bally slot platform, as well as a Windows-PC based main controller at Vendingdata. His knowledge of test engineering is very valuable-- At Vendingdata, he helped us to create a test bed for our devices. Richard also understands hardware to the level of being able to take a new component and data sheet and get it running even if the data sheet is a little lacking. His programming style is clean, well structured, and thorough, with good commenting and extra documentation when needed.”
March 24, 2010
Ken Peek, Senior Electrical Engineer, Elixir (formerly VendingData, Inc.) (colleague)
Worked directly with Richard
“Richard is a dedicated Project Engineer, always willing to step up and help when extra help is needed whether it's putting in extra time in the office to complete a project or traveling to a location to use his expertise to help solve a customers problem.”
March 9, 2010
Noah White, Product Support Supervisor, Shuffle Master (colleague)
Worked with Richard
“Richard is a highly analytical, detail oriented software engineer who is dedicated to getting his work accomplished.”
November 19, 2010
Kayla Block, Principal, New Horizons (business partner)
Was with another company when working with Richard
“Richard is a very intelligent, articulate, and detail-oriented person in both his private and professional lives. I am pleased to be given an opportunity to recommend him for employment. Richard would be an asset to any organization that chooses to employ him. From January 2009 until December 2009 I worked with Richard in his position of Troop Committee Chair, Troop 219, Las Vegas Area Council. This is a volunteer adult leadership position in the Boy Scouts of America.
As a Scoutmaster, I was responsible for delivering the scouting program and training youth leaders.
As a Troop Committee Chair, Richard was responsible for the following:
1) Organize the troop committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated, and completed.
2) Maintain a close relationship with the chartered organizations representative and the Scoutmaster.
3) Interpret national and local policies to the troop. 4) Prepare troop committee meeting agendas.
5) Call, preside over, and promote attendance at monthly troop committee meetings and any special meetings that may be called.
6) Ensure troop representation at monthly roundtables.
7) Secure top-notch, trained individuals for camp leadership.
8) Arrange for charter review and recharter annually.
9) Plan the charter presentation.
During Richard's tenure as Troop Committee Chair, the troop grew from 9 youth and 3 adult leaders to 17 youth and 6 adult leaders. A 100% growth in 12 months. This would not have been possible without Richard's drive for success and attention to detail. Richard is committed to the ideals of scouting and would be an asset to any organization.”
November 24, 2010
Samuel Gold, IT Manager, CCSN (business partner)
Was with another company when working with Richard
“I am delighted to offer this recommendation regarding the exceptional job done by Richard Howes in his role in the establishment and ongoing management of the SAMS horse club in Las Vegas Nevada. Richard has consistently proven his management skills in the administration of this successfully operated Single Action Mounted Shooters club, with which I've been involved for the past several years. Richard has organized groups of men, women and children, participating in multiple classes and events in venues in and out of state. He has cooperated with other groups, clubs and organizations. Always maximizing the benefits to members, guests and beneficiaries. I have the highest respect and admiration for Richard as an individual, a manager and a leader. Wishing Richard continuing success in all ares of his involvement.”
Nov 21st, 2010
Steve Trenk - Managing Member at Air Pegasus Helicopters/Stars&Stripes Air Tours
Steve Trenk - Managing Member at Air Pegasus Helicopters/Stars&Stripes Air Tours
“As an Emmy-winning writer (L.A. LAW, QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER, QUANTUM LEAP, etc.) and writing instructor at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, I would like to strongly recommend Richard Howes and his writing talent to anyone who may be lucky enough to hire him or work with him. In my experience working with writers over several decades, Richard's writing shows a flair, a unique style, and he is a very intelligent and pleasant to work with, as a special bonus. If you hired him or choose to have him write anything for you, you'd be quite pleased with the results and enjoy the experience as well.”
John Hill - UNLV Writer Instructor
Nov 21st 2010
John Hill - UNLV Writer Instructor
Nov 21st 2010
“Richard is a very versatile engineer with a good understanding of embedded and application software. He is also very good in project management and takes on every new task with energy and open mind. Professional team player.”
Zbigniew Czyzewski - , Director of Engineering - Progressive Systems, Shufflemaster
Richard is a very competent engineer with a good knowledge of embedded and application software.
His work at VendingData was always done correctly and on time. His experience with test fixtures was invaluable in getting our projects ramped up to production levels.
Richard would make a great addition to any engineering team.” November 19, 2010
His work at VendingData was always done correctly and on time. His experience with test fixtures was invaluable in getting our projects ramped up to production levels.
Richard would make a great addition to any engineering team.” November 19, 2010
“Richard is a natural problem solver, an extremely knowledgeable professional with a strong work ethic. Richard is reliable, highly motivated and puts forth his best effort, which shows in his work product. There were numerous times during the course of my employment with VendingData when I needed information, examples, and/or explanation on how various systems and equipments worked. Richard was always very helpful, he worked hard to quickly fulfill marketing requests and he often went above and beyond by providing more information or better examples. Richard was always a great go-to resource, even when the information was outside of his normal scope of duties he was helpful and courteous and got me the information I needed.” December 8, 2010
“Richard is a hard-working, goal-oriented IT professional with years of experience. You need Richard on your team if you want the job done right the first time.” December 28, 2010
Senior Software Engineer, VendingData, Inc.
“Mr. Howes was a pleasure to work with at Bally. I hired him as a software engineer supporting reel spinning slot machines. Richard quickly realized that our embedded gaming application was extremely complex.
He was one of the first in our group to use symbolic debugging. He also led our team’s out-of-house test and evaluation for several efforts. Richard implemented several projects with success before layoffs struck our organization.
Richard's strengths included listening to available data, formulating sound theories, and acting upon sound thinking with positive results.” December 1, 2010
He was one of the first in our group to use symbolic debugging. He also led our team’s out-of-house test and evaluation for several efforts. Richard implemented several projects with success before layoffs struck our organization.
Richard's strengths included listening to available data, formulating sound theories, and acting upon sound thinking with positive results.” December 1, 2010
Engineering Product Manager, Bally Gaming
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Experienced (Non-Manager)
Experienced (Non-Manager) - Have you seen those words in job descriptions?
What does that mean? It means that a specific company wants to hire someone who does not have any experience as a manager of any type or kind. I was discussing this with a friend who works as a recruiter and he and I realized something... We know that being a manager requires you to have a higher level of concern for the job and responsibilities. Being a manager means working 60 to 80 hours a week to make sure the job gets done. If you are or once were a business owner then you know what I mean. If you are successful in sales, marketing, engineering, customer service, or virtually any job, at any level, (manager or not) you know that going the extra mile is all the difference in the world between success and failure.
Being a manager means being responsible for the job or tasks, all of them, whatever they are, however closely they align to your department. Making the customer happy is important. Being profitable is important. Meeting goals and project tasks is important. Teaching, mentoring subordinates is important.
So why would a company ever NOT want to hire people who were once a manager? Are they afraid you will be all of the above? I doubt the company at large is that way.
Is the boss afraid you will take his job? If he is, he's worrying about the wrong things.
I just don't see the logic in passing over an applicant who can do the work and once managed or supervised people who do the work. A former manager knows how hard bosses work and what they have to do to be successful. This gives the former manager applicant a leg-up in knowing what the boss wants, needs, and expects. This gives the applicant the knowledge to do those things without having to be asked to do them... and do them first.
Wouldn't it be great for your career if you had the skills and knowledge to correctly anticipate what the boss is asking for and then be able to give them results that are one or two levels higher than they expect? Who is more likely to have that skill? Experienced (Manager), or Experienced (Non-Manager).
I'll close this long post with an example for the "Devil Wears Prada".
When told to get a proof unreleased copies of a Harry Potter book, the protangonist went the extra mile...
The boss chastized her for only one book... that being delivered to her desk and not to the train station where her two daughters were leaving for a trip. "How am I supposed to get this to my daughters who are already on the train?"
Our hero's response was something like, "I got the copies from the publisher and I had them printed and hardbound, so they look like the real books, I met your daughters in person at the station and they are reading them right now on the train. That's a third copy. I thought you might want a copy for yourself."
Go the extra mile... Hire the guy who used to be a manager...
Cheers!
Richard
What does that mean? It means that a specific company wants to hire someone who does not have any experience as a manager of any type or kind. I was discussing this with a friend who works as a recruiter and he and I realized something... We know that being a manager requires you to have a higher level of concern for the job and responsibilities. Being a manager means working 60 to 80 hours a week to make sure the job gets done. If you are or once were a business owner then you know what I mean. If you are successful in sales, marketing, engineering, customer service, or virtually any job, at any level, (manager or not) you know that going the extra mile is all the difference in the world between success and failure.
Being a manager means being responsible for the job or tasks, all of them, whatever they are, however closely they align to your department. Making the customer happy is important. Being profitable is important. Meeting goals and project tasks is important. Teaching, mentoring subordinates is important.
So why would a company ever NOT want to hire people who were once a manager? Are they afraid you will be all of the above? I doubt the company at large is that way.
Is the boss afraid you will take his job? If he is, he's worrying about the wrong things.
I just don't see the logic in passing over an applicant who can do the work and once managed or supervised people who do the work. A former manager knows how hard bosses work and what they have to do to be successful. This gives the former manager applicant a leg-up in knowing what the boss wants, needs, and expects. This gives the applicant the knowledge to do those things without having to be asked to do them... and do them first.
Wouldn't it be great for your career if you had the skills and knowledge to correctly anticipate what the boss is asking for and then be able to give them results that are one or two levels higher than they expect? Who is more likely to have that skill? Experienced (Manager), or Experienced (Non-Manager).
I'll close this long post with an example for the "Devil Wears Prada".
When told to get a proof unreleased copies of a Harry Potter book, the protangonist went the extra mile...
The boss chastized her for only one book... that being delivered to her desk and not to the train station where her two daughters were leaving for a trip. "How am I supposed to get this to my daughters who are already on the train?"
Our hero's response was something like, "I got the copies from the publisher and I had them printed and hardbound, so they look like the real books, I met your daughters in person at the station and they are reading them right now on the train. That's a third copy. I thought you might want a copy for yourself."
Go the extra mile... Hire the guy who used to be a manager...
Cheers!
Richard
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Richard Howes - Software Engineering
Hi!
This is my new blog that will carry me through and beyond my search for new opportunities in the Oklahoma area. I'm new to the Oklahoma area, as I just moved from Nevada and my last job. I'm looking for Software Engineering work in Tulsa and OKC. I create windows applications and embedded systems software in MS Visual Studio .NET (2000 everything) in C++, C#, C, Assembly Language, ASPX, as well as database, COM, and TCP/IP, etc.
You'll see my resume below in a later post! I can be contacted through linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/richard-howes/4/bb3/240
Thanks for looking!
This is my new blog that will carry me through and beyond my search for new opportunities in the Oklahoma area. I'm new to the Oklahoma area, as I just moved from Nevada and my last job. I'm looking for Software Engineering work in Tulsa and OKC. I create windows applications and embedded systems software in MS Visual Studio .NET (2000 everything) in C++, C#, C, Assembly Language, ASPX, as well as database, COM, and TCP/IP, etc.
You'll see my resume below in a later post! I can be contacted through linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/richard-howes/4/bb3/240
Thanks for looking!
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